Seasonal Fire and Fuels Ecology Crew Members and Leads

Dates:

• Review begins: January 13, 2025
• Application deadline: February 17, 2025
• Crew 1: April – October 2025
• Crew 2: June – November 2025
• Constraints on availability may be accommodated, crew lead may start early.

Overview:

Two crew leads and 3-5 crew members are needed to collect ecological data in both burned and unburned giant sequoia forests in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Crews will conduct field sampling on fuels, forest structure and the conditions surrounding planted seedlings. The data will be collected to support long-term monitoring that will result in both original scientific research and tangible recommendations for managing giant sequoia forests.

Field methods, equipment, and safety training will be provided. The crew will be trained by UC Berkeley and National Park Service staff in the first week of work but otherwise will need to work independently throughout the season, communicating regularly with the project manager. The work schedule will include 8 ten-hour work days followed by 6 days off. Most of the season will involve car camping, either in designated campsites (paid for by the employer) or in unofficial “dispersed” campsites adjacent to remote roads. These latter sites lack running water and restrooms. Field sites will also include remote backcountry wilderness areas that will require backpacking ~10 miles with a heavy pack, likely for at least two 8-day trips.

The crew will be provided with a vehicle, but crew members are responsible for their own transportation to and from the duty station at the beginning and end of the work week. The crew will be based near Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park and housing may be available at the UC Reserve in Yosemite, pending availability. Some field driving will be on remote and rugged roads. Shared camping equipment will be provided as necessary. Field work in mountain environments can be grueling, and crews will be expected to navigate off-trail, in hot or cold weather, on steep slopes and in harsh conditions. In some post-fire landscapes, field crew staff should anticipate traveling through dense shrubs for long distances to get to plots. Candidates with backcountry savvy will be preferred, but candidates with a proven hard work ethic in arduous conditions are welcome and will be trained in backcountry skills.

Required qualifications:

Crew lead

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in ecology, botany, forestry, range science, or related natural science field
• A minimum of two seasons of related field work

Crew member

• Upper division college coursework or equivalent experience in ecology, botany, forestry, range science, or related natural science field
• A minimum of one season of related field work or multiple relevant coursework field experiences

Qualifications required for both positions:

• Experience in conifer forest vegetation data collection methods
• Experience in identifying trees and shrubs
• Experience in use of map, compass, and GPS units for location and travel
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude in physically demanding and/or uncomfortable conditions
• Enthusiasm for the type of work to be conducted
• Knowledge of and experience with Microsoft Excel for data entry purposes
• CPR and Wilderness First Aid certified (certification may be accomplished after job offer is made, with registration cost reimbursed by the employer up to $250)

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience conducting forestry or ecological field work, preferably in similar environments to those planned for these positions
• Excellent organizational skills and detail oriented for data management, equipment management, crew management (crew lead only), and planning (crew lead only)
• Ability to take a leadership role and make decisions without input from supervisor when needed (crew lead only)
• Experience in a variety of vegetation sampling techniques
• Experience working with complex data recording equipment
• Experience in backcountry camping
• Valid driver’s license

Physical Demands:

• Ability to hike 5+ miles per day with a heavy pack through difficult and steep terrain often without trails and often in areas burned by wildfire or prescribed fire
• Willingness and ability to work in rugged/remote conditions, possibly with overnight stays away from vehicles
• Ability to work in extremely hot and dry as well as cold and wet conditions

Covid-19 Precautions:

Crews will be expected to carefully follow required Covid-19 precautions outlined by their supervisors (and required by the University of California). We expect employees to help protect the health of their fellow crew members by acting responsibly.

Crew Safety and Inclusion:

Outdoor safety is of the utmost importance in field work. This can have many meanings, including having first aid training, being a safe driver, being aware of your personal abilities and limitations when off-trail, and being prepared for potentially negative interactions with strangers. We will do all that we can to ensure every crew member is safe and secure in the field.